Camden grad recipient of hospital's $50,000 nursing scholarship

HILLSDALE — Hillsdale Hospital has recognized Annabelle Corkle as the 2024 recipient of its Future of Nursing Academic Assistance Program.

After completing an application and interview process, Corkle was selected to receive tuition assistance of up to $10,000 per year for five years as she pursues her nursing education.

“Annabelle is an outstanding individual who we are privileged to have in our Future of Nursing program,” Meghan Campbell, chief nursing officer, said. “She joins a long line of excellent nurses who started as Future of Nursing recipients and are now serving our community at Hillsdale Hospital.”

Recipients of the Future of Nursing Academic Assistance Program commit to working at Hillsdale Hospital upon completion of their associate degree in nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), along with their nursing license. For every year of tuition assistance received, the recipient commits to serve one year as a Hillsdale Hospital employee.

“We love to develop and grow our own, supporting the education and future career of Hillsdale County graduates in this rewarding field,” Campbell said.

Corkle graduated from Camden-Frontier High School on May 19 and will attend Jackson College in the fall studying nursing. During her high school career, Corkle played softball all four years, receiving the Coaches Award both her sophomore and junior years. She was a member of the student council and the National Honor Society. She made the honor roll every year and also received the Student of the Month award four times.

“I have always known that I wanted to be in the medical field, ever since I broke my arm in 4th grade and met the nicest woman ever who was my physical therapist,” Corkle said in her application essay. “[She] had a way of making it not so scary and figuring out ways to calm me down, and in some way making my recovery way more fun than I ever thought it would have been.”

Corkle’s passion for nursing was later solidified when she participated in the Hillsdale Area Career Center health science program and did her clinicals at Hillsdale Hospital’s MacRitchie unit for long-term care.

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“I was there for two days, and in the short 16 hours I got to experience being a part of a healthcare team, I realized that is what I want and that is what I strive to be in the future,” Corkle said. “Part of not only a team at the hospital, but a family on a unit.”

Corkle was notified of her scholarship award on May 3 when Hillsdale Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Stacy Feltz and Education & Development Coordinator Mary Carpenter surprised her with a scholarship certificate during class at Camden-Frontier High School.

For the past 23 years, Hillsdale Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to higher education with the Future of Nursing program. Since 2001, the hospital has awarded academic assistance to more than 55 students and paid for more than $3 million in tuition.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Camden grad recipient of hospital's $50,000 nursing scholarship